Transfer Day!!

Today was our big transfer day!

Here are our little embryos! The two embryos on the right labeled with the small T in a circle above are the ones that were transferred. The remaining one in the upper left side is the one that has been progressing poorly. It arrested and is no longer growing. You can't tell much from the photo, but it was getting more dark patches which indicated it had truly stopped developing.

The embryos that were transferred today are still a little slow developing. He said they had not made it to the blastocyst stage. He did see some progression, but they are just a little slower in developing. This might lower the chances they will attach to the uterine wall, so that will be one thing to be praying about this week! Embryos have been transferred at early stages and have made it, so these certainly can too with God's help! On another note, the embryologist said he has read some research (which I was reading just last night as well) that ICSI embryos that are female seem to develop slower than male embryos. Maybe we will have girls?????

The transfer was easy and pretty quick once we got into the room. They use a small catheter to transfer the embryos in and then I sit back and relax in the chair, reclining for about an hour.

Richard and I prayed and then took some goofy pictures, telling our little embryos to hang on because we think we will be fun parents!

I am home now and confined to rest for the next several days.

Here are our prayer requests: 1. That these two little embryos continue to grow and develop in God's time. 2. That these two little ones attach and grow (did I just say I wanted twins????!!!!)

Day 3 Progress

here is the latest update on our little ones...

All of the embryos are progressing. Both of the two cell embryos are now 4-cell embryos and the 4-cell embryo from yesterday is now a 6-cell embryo. The embryologist said that the current 4-cell embryos are a little behind, but it is common for ICSI embryos to be a little slow developing at first. Science does not fully know why this is but it he said that part of it may be due to the trauma of the fertilization procedure. It is like it had surgery when the needle is injected to allow the sperm to penetrate. It just needs time to recover just as we do when we have surgery. He did not seem concerned about those two being behind a bit, he said that what was important was that they were all progessing. He also told me that typically ICSI embryos, because they are sometimes behind, will be cultured until Day 6 before they are transferred into the womb. We will know more after we check progress tomorrow, but it could be Wednesday now before they are transferred. We continue to pray for their development and praise GOD for how amazing this process is! I am blown away by all that happens to bring life into the world. It is an incredible!

Prayer Focus:
Continued development of the embryos
That my body is ready to accept them once transferred
Richard's return from his Walk to Emmaus!